Acetylene-gas generator.



PATE N TED MAY 31, 1904.

L. MONTBL ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Ania. 1903- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

Zzvenozr Tm: Noqmsynzns 20., Pum'ouma. WASHINGTON n. c.

No. 761,386. PATENTBD MAY 31, "1904;

- I L. MONTEL.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATIOK rum) AP1?..-3,19D3.-

a snnms-snnm 2.

N0 MODEL.

7m: norms rirrns co, movaurua, WASHINGTON. u't:v

Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT ()F IcEQ-T i 1 0 M OF N YORK ACET-YLENE-GASI GENERATOR-7 sPEdIFIcArIoiv forming part of Letters Patent no. 7 61,386, date dM a y31,1904.

Application filed April 3,1903. ;Seria1No. 150,912. on model.)

To all Whom it may concern: Y

- Be it known that I, LEOMONTEL, a citizen 0 the. United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county,and State of New York, have invented certain new and use' ful Improvements in-AcetyleneGas Genera tors,'of which the following is a specification,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

- This invention relates to acetylene-gas generators; and its generalobjec'tis to provide a safe and convenient generator of this class for use in portable lamps, such as table-lamps, and also to providean acetylene-lamp which shall be suitable for "family use. I In lamps wherein acetylene is generated-and burned it is difiicult to provide for the entrance of a proper amount of atmosphere to'compensate the varying pressure in the interior of the lamp' and to provide for the-uninterrupted feeding of water to the carbid and at thesame time to preventthe occasional backing out of the Water throughthe opening provided for the entrance of'air.

Accordingly one object of this invention-is to provide a valve which shall permit the proper inflow of air into the interior. of the lamp, but 'whichxwill prevent the outflow of any water or gas therethrough atall times, and even though the lamp be-upset! I Another object of the invention is the pro-' vision of an improved controlling-cock to control the supply of gas to the burner and of air to-the interior of the lamp, which cock is to be operated in connection with a raising and lowering device for the carbid, with which the invention is alsoconcerned; I j

Still another object of'the invention is. the provision of a safety device 'forclosing the carbid-container chamber to prevent the en trance of water therein whenthe lamp be comes upset for any-reason,and, lastly-, one other object of theinvention isto furnish a? handy and eflicient means for securing quickly and tightly the top ofthe lamp uponthe outer or inclosing body of the lamp when the shell-- is introduced into the body. I

In the accompanying drawings,"Figure l is a central vertical section of a lamp embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section 1 openin a ca'rn 1:8

taken through the she'll on a plane indicatedby the line w'inFig. 1, the carbid-container, with the grate and closing-plug,- being re-- moved. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in vertical sec 'tion, of a'sai'ety'de vice which has been sprung to force the plug into the end ofth'e' carbidcontainer: chamber. Figs. 4 and "5 aredetail views iri elevation illustrating the construetiOn of the closing-catch. Figs. (Sandi are detail views, partly in section, oi a-blow-ofi valvemFig. 8 is a horizontal sectiontaken through the lamp on a planeindicated by'the line 242 in Fig.1; Fig, 9 is a detail view, in

vertical section, taken on a plane indicated by the line y y in Fig.1. Figs, 1-0 and 12 arede tail views ineleva'ti-on, andFi'gpll is a detail plan'- View, of the valve for controlling the flow of gas to theburner and the flower air to the interior oi the lamp. Fig. 13 is a detail view in elevation of the connections-between the-lifting-rod and the handle of the controlling-cock. I The' outer'or -incl0sing body 1 of the generator may be shaped-to form a lamp-body and is of sufficie'nt size to serve as a container for the water and to receive the shell 2 forming the generating-chamber 2 and :secured' to the upper part 6 of theilamp.by the carbid ontainer 3 and the partitions 4 and 5. In order' to'atta'ch-quickly and conveniently the upper part and shell of the lamp to the lower part or body and at the same time to insure a perfectly tightjoint between the two parts, a

longitudinallyslidable catch- 19 is provided, Figsz..1,--4:, and 5, a small-space being isolated from themain or water chamber l by a partition 19 for said catch to'work in; On the upper end ofthecatch is a nose 22, adapted to engage a':pr,0jection- 31, Fig. 8, on thetopt,

and in thelower part of'the catch is a square g QO; the sides of which are engaged by the-handle 10 is provided with-a suitable-latch 11, by which it may be disengaged from the lamp body and tilted, thereby turning the secured to or made integral witha 'sliortisiiaft 17, having a squared portion which Ioo cam and causing the catch 19 to be raised to disengage the top. The handle of the lamp thus serves as a lever for operating catch 19. A rubber gasket 26 is provided between the body and the shell to make a tight joint, and as soon as the catch 19 is raised the shell or top is turned slightly in a left-handed direction to disengage it from a stop 23 and the catch 19, Fig. 8, when it may be lifted from off the body. The projections 31 are provided with shoulders 32, which act as stops when the top is being secured in the body by turning it in a right-handed direction.

Between the partitions 4 and 5 a gas-receiving chamber 4 is formed, which communicates with the generating-chamber through a tube 4 said receiving-chamber in turn communicating with a C amber 5, connected with the burner 8 by a passage 58 59. This passage is provided with a cock 52, having a stem 56, a seat 55, and a controlling-handle 57. said cock being provided to regulate and con: ml the u p y of ga t theb e For this purpose the stem of said cock is cut away near one end to form a channel between itself and its seat, by which channel communication may be established and regulated between the two ends of the passage 58 59 and by which therefore communication between the chambers 4* and 5 may be fully or partially established or wholly cut fofl", as may be desired. Said cock is also provided with a second channel 61, communicating with the outer air, which channel when the cock is opened to establish full communication between the chamber 4 and the chamber 5 registers with an air-passage 60, communicating with the water container or chamber 1. Furthermore, the relation between the channels of the cock is such that when there is only partial communication between the chambers 4*- and 5 or when communication between said chambers is wholly cut 01f communication between passage 60 and the outer air. will be Wholly cut off. In sald passage there is provided a valve-seat 63, having openings 67 through which it commu: nicates with the water-chamber, and within said valve-seat is a plug having'a cork body 64 and a rubber head 65, said plug being thereby adapted to float and close the passage 60 should any water back out from the waterchamber into the valve-seat owing to a sudden pressure in the generating-chamber or to any other cause. Said plug rests upon a heavy metallic ball 68, which in case the lamp is upset will force the plug against the opening in the passage 60, and thereby prevent the escape of water from the generating-chamber 1, which in such a casewould tend to flow out through the same. I

' Connected with handle 57 of the cock 56, preferably by a cam-and-pin connection, is a raising and lowering device for the carbidsupporting grate 36. The connections between the handle 57 and the raising and lower.-

ing device are such that when the handle is moved to permit communication to be established between the chambers 4" and 5 the grate will be lowered to bring the carbid in contact with the water in the generatingchamber and that when said handle is turned to cut off communication between the chambers 4 and 5 the grate and carbid will be raised out of the water. For this purpose said device comprises a lifting-rod 49, which works in a suitable guide-tube 50. The upper end of the rod 49 has a cross-bar 90 secured thereto, and a cam 91, which is secured to the cock, bears against said cross-bar and serves, when the handle 57is turned, to raise or lower the rod 49, according to the direction in which the handle is moved. A guide 92 is provided upon the exterior of the lamp-bod y upon which the bar 90 travels to prevent the rod 49 from turning while being moved, the lower end of said guide being provided with a suitable packing device 51, a yoke 45, pivoted at 48 to the shell 2, a connection 47 between the end of the rod 49 and the yoke, and acurved crossbar 44, pivoted in the yoke. When the lamp is in operation, these parts remain in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and when the generation of gas is to be stopped the rod 49 is lifted by the proper movement of the handle 57 and raises the yoke 45, which brings the curved portion of the cross-bar 44 against the lower portion of the grate-support and raises the latter. While the curved bar 44 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the ends 46 of said bar,which are turnedin to engage the upper sides of the yoke 45, lock or prevent the curved portion 44 from being turned out of the path of the grate-support. When, however, it is desired to remove from or insert in the carbid-container 3 the grate and the carbid, said rod may be turned up and over, so as to bring the curved part 44 outot' the path of the grate, which is then easily removed or insertcd, as the case may be.

Figs. 10, 12, and 13 show the position of handle 57 and the parts adjacent thereto when the carbid is in its lowest position and the cock is open to its fullest extent. \Vhen the handle 57 is turned so as to establish only a slight communication between chambers 4 and 5 through the cock, the position of said handle is shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 12. In such a position the weight of the carbid transmitted through the rod 49 to cam 91 would cause the cock to swing around to its full-open position unless some means were provided to check such movement. Accordingly a dog 86 is pivoted upon the exterior of the lamp adjacent to the cock, Figs. 10 and 12, which dog when the handle is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 drops into a recess portion 93 of the casing and prevents the carbid from causing the handle 57 to swing around to bring the cock to its full-open position.

The carbid is furnished to the lamp preferably in the form of cylindrical cartridges 43,

and for convenientlyiholding the carbid a tube 33 is provided and supported upon the grate 36,'which tube is slightly smaller than the carbid-container tube 3, in which it may move freely in a vertical direction when the lamp is placed in operation or'when the gen-v In order to pre being of aconical shape and of a size adapted to fit within the lower end of the tube 5 Said plug is provided with a rod 42, having a head 42, against which any suitable automatic closing device may" act.

vent it from interfering in its movementwith the lifting device and pivoted on a standard 80, said lever being engaged by a verticallymoving frame 78, rigidly secured to a rod 76.

The frame is also formed in such a way as to 7 of the disk.

container. in order to seal the same against prevent it from interfering in its movements with the lifting device and also with the lever 79. Such closing device further comprises a free disk 69, which lies between the bottom of the lamp and the support upon which the lamp happens to rest, aspring being confined between'the disk 69 and the lamp-bottom,"-whereby the disk 69 tends to move away, fromthe lamp-bottom and draw with it the rod 76, but is prevented from so doing so long as thelamp rests firmly upon its bottom. In case, however, the lamp becomes tilted or upset the closing device'is sprung, .the disk 69 drawing away from the.

bottom, together with the rod 76, and causing, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the downward move' ment of the frame 78, which drives the plug 40 forcibly into its seat in the lower end of tube 3, A recess 7 0 is provided in the bottom of the lamp, which is engaged by a circu-v lar projection upon the disk 69 to prevent the entrance of any matter between the disk and the .lampand also to prevent the displacement A packing-ring 72 is provided around the rod 76, and a steel washer 7 3 is also provided to receive the thrust of the spring 7 5.

It will beclear that instead of providing a plug adapted to move and close the carbidthe entrance water when the lamp is upset any other means for preventing the water from coming in contact with the carbid may be employed.

For example, in a generator where the parts are arranged as in the present case a valve in the container-tube may be employed instead of the plug, or the tube itself may be moved to efiect the closing thereof.

Accordingly the invention: is not limited to" Such a closing device preferably comprises a lever 79, bent to preany particular means of closing the carbid. container for this purpose. Moreover, the

closing device actuating or effecting the operation of the closing means is capable of being constructedin various ways. The spring 75, for example, may be arranged w1th1n the generator and the spring may be normally extended by a tensile force instead of being normally compressed, as in the present case, or some other similar devlce may be substituted for the spring. Furthermore, the connections between the sprin g and the closing means may be changed, and the disk may become a mere point, the one essential beingthat there shall be means upon the'exterior of the lamp which the weight of the lamp shall normally hold in check, but which are disengaged when the lamp is tilted or upset, thereby setting free a springor some other source of energyto operate means for closing the carbid-container.

When the upper portion of the lamp is placed within the lower portionor body of the lamp, the air which would naturally be confined in the generating-chamber 2" is permitted to escape to a certain extent through a blow-off valve 83, Figs. 6 and 7, which is controlled by a cock 82 and connects with a 'pipe12. The distance of the lower end of 'pipe 12 from the bottom ofchamber 2, it will be seen, will determine the quantity of air which ispermitted to escape through said pipe as the upper portion of the lamp is inserted in the lower portion, for as soon as the lower end of said pipe comes in contact with the water in the body 1 said pipe will be sealed and no more air will escape. The length'of said pipeis such as to permit just enough air to escape to allow the water in the chamber :2 to rise approximately as high as the lower 8 of the lever engages the top of the lampbody'and closes the valve, the closed position being indicatetlin Fig. 7 The valve remains in this position until the upper part of the lamp is removed from the body, when the straight portion of the lever 85 engages the under side of the top of the lamp-bottom and opens the valve 83.

When the generator has been standing for any length of time-as over night, for instance-a slight pressure may develop there'- in, owing to the after generation of gas which is liable'to occur so long as the carbid remains wet. lighted under these conditions the cock 52 is only partially opened to establishonly a slight j communication between the chambers 4 and Accordingly when the lamp is to be which is introduced into the chamber before the top of the lamp is placed upon the body of the lamp, will when the two parts of the lamp are brought together in their proper relation be forced nearly to the top of chamber 1*. The blow-ofi valve 83 will permit a sufficient quantity of air to be discharged from the generating-chamber 2 to permit the waterto rise in said chamber a little above the bottom of tube 12. The opening of cook 52 will allow the air which is confined in the generating-chamber to escape and at the same time will permit the lowering of the water in the water-container, which rises and fills the place occupied by the discharged air. When the handle 57 is moved to open cock 52, the carbid is at the same time lowered, so that the lower portion of the carbid projects outside the container-tube 3. The water continues to rise in the generating-chamber until it reaches the carbid, when the generation of gas will at once commence and the further rise of the water willbe stopped. Finally, an equilibrium will be established between the pressure of the gas in the generating-chamber and the pressure of the column of water in the water-container,the degree of this pressure determining the pressure of the gas at the burner. This equilibrium between the pressure of the gas in the generating-chamber and the pressure of the column of water in the container will be maintained until the carbid is exhausted and the generation of gas ceases.

It will be obvious that while my invention comprises certain details relating to the construction and operation of acetylene-generators it is by no means limited to the precise details shown and described hereinbefore; but it is capable of different embodiments,ot which the present embodiment is considered preferable. Accordingly the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and described.

I claim as my invention 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a body, a shell, a catch within the body to secure the shell to the body, a handle upon the body, and connections between the handle and the catch whereby the latter is controlled by the handle.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a body, a shell, a catch within the body to secure the shell to the body, a gasket between the shell and the body, a handle upon the body, and connections between the handle and the catch whereby the latter is controlled by the handle.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a body, a shell, a catch within the body to secure the shell to the body, a handle upon the body, connections between the handle and the catch whereby the latter is controlled by the handle, and a latch upon the handle to secure the handle to the body.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a body and shell, of a catch comprising a sliding member within the body, a cam engaging said member, and a handle upon the body operatively connected with the cam whereby the movement of the handle efi ects the operation of the catch.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a body, a handle upon the body and a shell, of a catch within the body comprising a sliding member, a cam engaging said member, and rigid connections between said cam and handle, whereby the movement of thehandle effects the operation of the catch.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a body, a handle upon the body and a shell, of a catch within the body comprising a sliding member with a square hole therein, an L-shaped cam within said hole, and rigid connections between cam and bandle, whereby the movement of the handle effects the operation of the catch.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the water eontainer, a gas-receiving chamber, and a chamber communicating with the burner, of a cock for controlling the flow of gas from the receivingchamber into the burner and for controlling the admission of air into the water-container.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the water-container, a gas-receiving chamber, and a chamber communicating with the burner, of a cock having two channels, one for controlling communication between the receiving-chan'iber and the chamber connecting with the burner and the other for controlling communication between the outside air and the water-container, said channels being so related as to cut off communication between the water-container and the outside air except when full communication is established between the gas-receivingchamber and the chamber connecting with the burner.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the water-container, a chamber connecting with the burner, a gas-receiving chamber, and a carbid-container, of a cock for controlling the flow of gas from the receiving-chamber into the burner and for controlling the admission of air into the watereontainer, and means operatively connected with the cock for raising and lowering the carbid-container.

10. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the water-container, a chamber communicating with the burner, a gas-reconing chamber and a carbidcontainer, of a 1 chamber and the chamber connecting with the burner, and the other for controlling communication between the outside air and the watercontainer, said channels being so related as to cut off communicationbetween thewatercontainer and the'outside air except when full communication is established between the gasreceiving chamber and the chamber connecting, with the burner, and means operatively connected with the cock for lowering the carbid-container when full communication is established between the receiving chamber and the chamber connected with the burner.

11. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a cock for controlling the sup- .ply of gas to the burner and for establishing communication between, the outside air and movable rod, means for liftingthe rod operated by the cock and engaging one end of the rod, and means on the other end of the rod to engage the container.

12. In an acetylene-gas generator, the com: bination of a carbid-container, a grate for supporting the carbid, a yoke beneath the grate through which the grate and carbid may be inserted into the container, and a curved cross-bar pivoted in said yoke and movable into and out of the path of said grate.

18. In an acetylene-gas generator,'the combination of a carbid-container, a tube and grate for holding the carbid and movable within said container, a yoke beneath thecontainer through which the tube and grate may be inserted into the container and by which they may be raised in the container, and a curved cross-bar pivoted in said yoke and movableinto and out of the path of saidtube and grate.

14. In an acetylene-gas generator, means operating automatically when the generator is tilted or upset for raising the carbid from the water. I

15. In an acetylene-gas generator, a movable rod extending through the bottom thereof and adapted to be extended upon the moving of the lamp from its support, and means actuated by the movement of said rod to seal the carbid from the water.

16. In an acetylene-gas generator,means for raising the carbid from the water and a device to actuate said means operating automatically when the generator is tilted or upset.

17 In an acetylene-gas generator,means for preventing the contact of the water and carbid, a device to actuate said means, and an automaticallyactuated member extending through the exterior of the generator to which said device is operatively connected, so that when the generator is tilted or upset said member will be extended and will operate the declosing the carbid-chamber, a device to actuate said means, a spring-actuated rod extending through the bottom of the generator to which said device is connected, and a free disk on the bottom of the generator and secured to the rod, whereby when the generator is tilted or upset the disk will move away from'the bottom and the rod will be extended through the bottom and will operate the device.

19. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a carbid-container, of a plug adapted to' fit into the end of said container, a spring normally under compression, and connections adapted to communicate the energy of the spring to the plug whereby the plug upon the expansion of the spring will be moved to close the end of the container.

20. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a carbid-container, of a plug adapted to fit into the end of said chamber, a free disk upon which the generator normally rests, a spring normally confined between the generator and disk, and connections adapted to communicate the energy of the spring to the plug whereby the plug upon the expansion of the spring will be moved to close the end of the container.

21. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a carbid-container, a plug adapted to fit into the end of said chamber, a free disk upon which the generator normally rests, a spring normally confined between the generator and disk, a rod upon the'disk, a verticallymovable frame connected with the rod, a lever pivoted to the frame and engaging the plug to communicate the force of the spring to the plug whereby the plug upon the expansion of the spring will be moved to close the end of the container. I 22. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the water-container and anairinlet pipe in said water-container, of a valve having a valve-seat in said pipe,,and a plug in said valve-seat adapted upon theentrance of water into the valve-seat to float to prevent the backing out of the water in the container incase of a rise of pressure therein.

23. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the water-container, of a valve having a valve-seat communicating with said container and the outer air, a heavy ball in said valve-seat, and a relatively light plug resting therein on said ball and adapted, upon the upsetting of the generator to be moved by saidball to cut of]? communication between the container and the outsidefair,

24. In an acetylene-gas generator, means for preventing the contact of the water and carbid, a device to actuate said means, and a spring-actuated rod extending through the bottom of the generator to which said device This: specification signed and witnessed-this 2d day 0fApril-, A. D. 1903.

LEO MONTEL.

In presence of- ANTHONY N. J nsnnm, LUoI s E. VARNEY. 

